Through Innovation & Collaboration to Sustainable Results: The Success of ‘Tomorrow’s Dairy’

Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods

Tomorrow’s Dairy is an inspiring example of how innovation and collaboration can drive measurable sustainability successes in the value chain. During an interview, Birgit van Oijen, associate partner at TOSCA, spoke with Marjolein de Kreij, Director of Milk Supply at Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods, about the challenges, achievements, and ambitions of this remarkable program.

A Prestigious Award

In October, Nestlé and Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods were awarded the Dutch Logistics Award 2024 by the Vereniging Logistiek Management (VLM) for their Tomorrow’s Dairy program. Previously known as the Low Carbon Farming program, it impressed the jury with its innovative approach, chain collaboration, scalability, and ambitious sustainability goals.

The jury report highlighted: “A complementary partnership focused on chain collaboration, serving sustainability gains at the farm level.” This award recognizes the joint efforts of dairy farmers, Vreugdenhil, Nestlé, PPP-Agro Advies, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), and other stakeholders.

Goals and Results: Reducing CO₂ Emissions by 50% in 2030

The program's primary objective is to work with dairy farmers to reduce the carbon footprint of milk by 50% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. Simultaneously, it addresses broader sustainability aspects within dairy farming, including regenerative agriculture principles.

By 2023, the program had already achieved a 15% reduction in CO₂ emissions, involving 80 dairy farmers. These results align well with the final goal. Marjolein reflects on the program's progress:
“In the early stages, the focus was on learning and development. Now, it is more about monitoring and steering towards the higher objective.”

What Makes This Program Unique

The program stands out for its:

• Long-Term Commitment: Running from 2021 until at least 2030, providing stability and continuity.
• Chain Collaboration: Involving all stakeholders, from multinationals and consumers (Nestlé) to dairy farmers, feed producers, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR). This requires clear structures, understanding, and knowledge sharing.
• Practical Innovation and Learning: Measures developed by WUR are implemented, evaluated, and refined continuously. Innovation is a constant cycle of experimentation and improvement.
• Focus on Farmers: Personal contact and tailored support are crucial for progress and motivation. External factors, like drought, also play a role and demand adaptability.

TOSCA’s Role in the Program

Since late 2022, TOSCA has played a pivotal role in the program's development. As program manager at Vreugdenhil, Birgit van Oijen translated formal agreements between Nestlé and Vreugdenhil into actionable plans. This included setting up contracts, organizing financial flows, and establishing meeting structures and reporting processes.

With the transition to permanent staff in late 2023, the program has entered a new phase: scaling up to involve more dairy farmers. Marjolein acknowledges Birgit’s contributions: “You’ve given the program a fantastic kickstart.”

Future Outlook and Ambitions

Achieving a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030 remains a significant challenge. The enthusiasm and commitment of dairy farmers will continue to be key drivers, while innovations both within and beyond the value chain will accelerate sustainable outcomes. As Marjolein emphasizes:
“The goal remains, and innovation is the key to achieving it.”

Learn More

Discover more about the program and its inspiring collaboration: Low Carbon Farming Wins Dutch Logistics Award

Interested?
Contact Birgit van Oijen, associate partner at TOSCA (birgit@toscatribe.nl).